Running-board support



Sept. 11, 1923.

A. T. STURT RUNNING BOARD SUPPORT Filed Jan. 2'7. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 11v V EN TOR A; ATTOR 5y i Sept. 11, 1923. I 1 11,467,656

A T. STURT RUNNING BOARD SUPPORT Filed Jan. 27. 1922 s sheets-sheet 2 yzo j INVENTORI Z. BY dwfiwd 4' ATTORN Sept. 11, 1923.

A; T. STURT RUNNING BOARD SUPPORT Filed'Jan 2'7, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 law ATTO NEY Patented Sept. '11, 1923.

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FTENT FFiiF...

ALFRED T. STURT, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DURAN?) MOTORS INCOR- PORATED, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

RUNNING-BOARD SUPPORT.

Application filed January 27, 1922. Serial No. 532,143.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED T. STURT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Flint, county of Genesee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Running-Board Supports.

This invention relates particularly to means for mounting and supporting the running boards of motor vehicles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an invisible fastening means for securing running boards of automobiles to their supports.

Another object is to provide means for rigidly supporting the center as Well as the ends of the running board, which means are light in weight and yet amply strong.

A further object is to provide improved means whereby the running board is supported by the frame and attached to the front and rear fenders.

Another important object is to provide a rigid securing means between the rear end of the running board, the body of the car, the frame and the rear fender.

Other objects will appear from the subjoined specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a chassis showing the front and rear fenders and running board associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the construction supporting the front end of the running board.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view of parts shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a. section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

5 is a view of the rear fender and attached parts.

F 6 is a. section with parts broken away on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view looking in the direction of the arrow 7 of Fig. 5, showinga portion of the body of the car in section.

Fig. 8 is a section on line S8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a typical section of the running board fastener taken on vertical planes adjacent a, b or o of Fig. 1 and at a} right angle to the section of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in the several views, 10 represents one of the side channel bars of a chassis, and but one is shown in view of the fact that the construction pertaining to the running board, fenders, and supports there for, is the same on both sides of the structure. In view of these facts, in the interest of clearness, but one side of the structure will be specifically described, using the singular number, but it is to be understood that in so doing the other side of the structure is to be also described, as the struc tures on both sides are, as above stated, duplicates of each other. At the front is a cross beam 12 of channel bar construction which is supported by a front hanger bracket 14 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the side channel bar of the chassis. To the underside of the cross beam 12 is secured a front step hanger 16 which is formed with a front flange 18, and a rear flange 20, the flange 18 being secured to the lower flange 22 of the cross beam 12. The flange 20 forms a seat or support to the front end of the running board 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The rear end of the front fender 26 is bent over at 28 to form a flange 30 which abuts the front end of the running board and engages the web 19 between the flanges 18 and 20 of the step hanger 16. The front fender is supported on a bracket 32 which is in turn secured to the chassis in any approved manner.

The rear end of the running board is supported in a novel manner inasmuch as its supporting bracket is carried by the rear fender, this bracket being secured to the body of the car. The rear fender 34 is shown in detail in Figs. to T and com prises the curved body portion 36 having the usual crowned contour in cross section. and provided with a curved finish flange 38 and a rim 39. To the lower forward end of the rear fender is secured a bracket 40 which comprises a curved flanged front portion 42. A step 44 and flanges 46 and 48 extend perpendicularly to the front flanged portion 42. These flanges are secured to the body of the car'49 by lag screws 51 and53, and the flange bracket 40 is spot welded at 55 to the fender 36 and is also riveted thereto at its upper end at 57. The rear end of the running board 24 rests on the step 44 and is secured thereto by bolts 50, each of which is carried by bolt plates 52 which are secured in recesses 54 formed on the underside of the running board. The plates 52 are each formed with a depression 56 into which the head of the bolt is seated and are secured to the running board by rivets passing through the flange of the plate. The heads of the bolts 50 are seated in the depressions 56 and the shanks of said bolts extend down through the holes formed in the step alt and lock washers and nuts 60 and (52 securely clamp the parts to each other. Similar plates 52 are secured in suitable recesses at ditl'erent locations wherever it is desired to secure the same to a support, but 1 find that it is sutticient to utilize these securing means at the front end and at substantially the center of the running board in addition to therear end which has just been described, these locations being indicated. at the points a, Z) and c in Fig, 1. This permits the construction of a running board which has n unsightly exposed Fastening devices like screws or bolts and adds much to the neat appearance of the car. The top of the running board is covered with a heavy linoleum cover 64; and as a finish the tour sidesv are trimmed with a polished angle 66, the flange 6S overlapping the linoleum cover.

The running board is supported at the center on a cross member which is carried by a hanger 72 which is secured to the top flange of each channel bar 10 ol the chassis. The running board is secured at this location to a cross bar 70 which extends entirely across the chassis and is secured by rivets to the hanger 72, as indicated in Fig. 4;, to the longitudinal beam of the chassis. 7

From the above, it will be seen that the running board is supported in the front by the step hanger 16, in the center by the cross beam 70 and at the rear by the step 4% formed on the bracket 41) which carries the rear tender. This improved construction makes a rigid support for the rear part of the running board and the bracket secured to the rear tender stitlcns the same and provides means for rigidly attaching it to the body in such manner that objectionable noises of the parts rubbing on one another are eliminated. The supporting structure is of light weight, and is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and fabricate, yet is of ample strength for the purpose used.

As changes of construction could be made within the scope of my invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a motor vehicle, a depending bracket, a cross beam secured to said bracket, a hanger having a front flange secured to said cross beam, a rear flange adapted to support a running board and a depressed portion connecting said flanges and adapted to receive and support the lower end or a tender.

2. M a motor vehicle, a bracket depending from the frame oi said vehicle, a cross beam secured to said bracket, a hanger having a tt'ront flange secured to said cross beam, a rear flange and a depressed portion connecting said flanges, a 'llender extending into and supported in said depressed portion and a running board supported on said rear flange and abutting said tender.

3. In a motor vehicle, a rear fender, a bracket supported on the body of said vehicle and having an upwardly extending portion on which the forward part of said t'en der is supported and a forwardly ext-endin g portion and a running board supported on said forwardly extending portion.

l. In a motor vehicle, a rear fender, a bracket secured to the body of the vehicle, an upwardly extending portion on said bracket supporting the forward portion of said tender, a il'orwardly extending portion on said bracket, and a running board having its rear end resting on said forwardly extending portion and abutting the lower end of said tender.

5. In a motor vehicle, a tender at the forward part of said vehicle, a bracket secured to said vehicle, a cross beam secured to said bracket, a hanger having a front portion secured to said beam, a depressed portion and a rear flange, the rear end of said tender extending into and secured in said depressed portion, a running board supported on said rear portion, a cross beam supporting the central portion of said running board, a bracket secured to the rear portion of the vehicle, and a rear fender supported on said bracket, said bracket having a 'lorwardly extending step supporting the rear end of the running board.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand at 560 Jackson Ave, Long Island City, county of Queens, State of New York, this 20th day of January, 1922.

ALFRED T. STURT. 

